SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy successfully launches

Post by marvin » Wed, Feb 07, 2018, 11:13 AM UTC

z3t4 wrote: post #747

mikejb wrote: post #740

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The damage to the ASDS might be more of a problem. Depending on how badly it was damaged, it might not be available to catch other cores that could have landed otherwise

It look cool to have them land on their own, but wouldn't it be much cheaper to use parachutes and drop them in the ocean !? Either way they are going to take them apart down to each bolt and then reassemble again to make sure there are no faults. You don't simply fill it up and relaunch.

Post by nomercy400 » Wed, Feb 07, 2018, 11:20 AM UTC

pikchurn wrote: post #69

alangibson wrote: post #38

Yet another incredible show from SpaceX. At this point, if they said they were going to build a football stadium on Europa, my only question would be when does it open. But I couldn't help but laugh at the fact that they can launch a massive rocket on the first try and land (at least) 2 cores, but the camera STILL cuts out on the drone ship.

I don't find that surprising. The communication link back is presumably by satellite since it is in the middle of the ocean, and probably a directional antenna because of the high bandwidth. You have any good suggestions for having a reliable connection via directional antenna on a flimsy barge that a rocket is landing on in this middle of the choppy north Atlantic?

Post by marvin » Wed, Feb 07, 2018, 11:23 AM UTC

stouset wrote: post #808

I feel like I must be crazy, but did anyone else notice that the two videos from the pair of boosters seemed like they were cloned from the viewpoint of a single booster? I don't mean they look similar. I mean they look like they came from the same video feed . When completing the touchdown, they both seem to land at the same pad -- you can see the flame of the other booster and the pad the other booster is landing a…

Post by jeroen » Wed, Feb 07, 2018, 11:36 AM UTC

jotm wrote: post #817

mike741 wrote: post #583

Earlier quoted context omitted.

amazing, is the car strapped to the outside of the rest of the ship? how does it remain so stable after the separation? by "sphere" i just meant the case it is shown inside of at the start, since the markings on the wall resemble motion tracking panels used for 3d projection. perhaps I just underestimate the precision and smoothness of the fairing separation, or am misunderstanding how the car is rigged so as to rema…

It's like putting a satellite into orbit, right? Up until the rocket stops burning, it's held in place by something, then it's released, then enclosure opens with minimal/nonexistent effect on the payload, leaving it out there... In this case, the car has enough velocity to float to it's Sun orbit, I guess.

Post by andrepd » Wed, Feb 07, 2018, 11:43 AM UTC

robeastham wrote: post #486

andrepd wrote: post #445

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think a good-faith reading of the parent commentary is that he was talking about the mannerisms and language and overall appearance of the person, not that he was white-skinned and a man. Immediately assuming he was saying he looks like an engineer because he isn't a women, or dark-skinned, is ironically a racist and sexist assumption.

I find it fascinating that SpaceX manages to pull off one of the most amazing things in the history of humanity and the top comment thread here on HN somehow manages to get bogged down in discussing race, gender and sexual orientation as it relates to the "hosts" of the live stream. These are important issues to be sure, but the self appointed thought police of generation "I'm offended" who feel the need to instruct…